Work Calculations

The Work Calculations Video Tutorial explains how to use the work equation to analyze and solve a physics situation involving a work calculation. Six examples of varying difficulty are discussed. Give Mr. H less than 9 minutes of your time and become a superstar at calculating work.

The video lesson answers the following questions:

What is the equation for work?
How do you use the equation to calculate the work done on an object?

Video

You can watch the video below, or click here to watch on YouTube (opens in a new tab).

To improve the effectiveness of the learning experience, The Physics Classroom has provided the following tools:

Additional and Related Learning Tools

The Calculator Pad: Work and Energy Problem Set, Problems #1-6
Not all Physics courses are created equal. But if yours emphasizes the solving of Physics word problems, then get acquainted with our Calculator Pad section. You will find problems with a wide range of difficulty levels, answers to every problem, and an audio-guided solution. Check it out!

Physics Classroom Tutorial. Work, Energy and Power Chapter: Lesson 1: Calculating the Amount of Work Done by Forces
Our Tutorial section always comes through with a common sense explanation of a topic. This particular page provides 9 practice problems with answers and solutions. It makes a great written reference and a great follow-up to this video.

Work Concept Builder
There's nothing like a Concept Builder for quick checks of your understanding. This one on the topic of Work will test your understanding of examples and non-examples of work and the distinction between + and - work. While it is more conceptual and less mathematical in nature, it still makes for a worthy exercise.

Minds On Phyiscs - Mission WE1: Work
You want to raise your game a notch? Here's how: click this link and try the newly revised Minds On Physics mission on the topic of work. Your reward will be given on test day.

Teacher Resources

Curriculum Corner, Work, Energy, and Power Section: Work
Get students active and thinking with one of our free Think Sheets from the Curriclum Corner section of our website. Here's one on ...
Work

The Calculator Pad: Work and Energy Problem Set, Problems #1-6
If your course provides a moderate to heavy emphasis on the solving of Physics word problems, then the Calculator Pad should become your friend (and more importantly, your students' friend). Each chapter contains a set of problems with answers and an audio-guided solution. The first si problems of this Problem Set include some work calculations. Send your students there to improve their problem-solving skills.

Physics Interactives, Work and Energy Section: It's All Uphill Simulation
While this simulation and the accompanying exercise may not be a perfect match for the video, it represents what might be for many classrooms the next step in the learning progression. We recommend it for its data analysis emphasis. You might like it also.

Teacher Toolkits, Work-Energy Fundamentals
Try a Teacher Toolkit ... you might be very glad that you did. Each toolkit includes annotated links to vetted resources from across the web that we feel reliably support the specific topic. Give this one on work and energy a try.

Work Concept Builder
There's nothing like a Concept Builder for quick checks of student understanding. This one on the topic of Work will test student understanding of examples and non-examples of work and the distinction between + and - work. The first two activities provide a great follow up to this video.

Minds On Phyiscs - Mission WE1: Work
Our newly revised HTML5 version of Minds On Physics can provide your students the workout they need to be successful in Physics. Each question in these interactive questioning modules are accompanied by a question-specicific help page. Best of all, you can purchase an account and track your students' progress. For intense practice, you can't go wrong with "MOPs".

Lesson Notes

Download (opens in a new tab) or view below

Slides

Do you like the slides we used? They are available in our low cost Teacher Presentation Pack, along with other updated materials used in our presentation.